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April 5, 2024 through April 11, 2024
This report represents some events the FWC handled over specified weeks;
however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.
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 CASES
Franklin County
- Officer Hartzog was on patrol at Patton Drive in Eastpoint and observed an individual fishing from a paddleboard on the south side of the Eastpoint channel. Officer Hartzog observed the individual exit the paddleboard and begin harvesting large clusters of wild oysters from the channel’s edge and putting them on the bow of his paddleboard. The subject paddled back across the channel and when the officer approached to conduct a resource inspection, the subject began discarding the wild oysters back into the water. Officer Hartzog instructed the individual to stop discarding the oysters and then detained the individual. The officer advised the individual he had observed him harvesting unculled wild oysters from a prohibited area. Additionally, the Apalachicola Bay system is closed to recreational and commercial oyster harvest per Executive Order. The subject also did not possess a current saltwater fishing license or any safety equipment on his paddleboard. The violations were cited accordingly.
Okaloosa County
- Investigator Pifer received information about a vehicle parked near a range gate at Eglin Wildlife Management Area. When he and Officer Oliver arrived on scene, they observed two individuals riding bikes down the range road toward the vehicle. As the officers approached the individuals to conduct permit inspections, one subject quickly entered the wood line, then reappeared a short time later. Investigator Pifer contacted the individual who had entered the woods and was in possession of a game camera. Investigator Pifer canvassed the area where the subject entered the woods and located a backpack containing whole kernel corn hidden in the brush. The subject was interviewed and denied ownership of the backpack. The subject’s game camera was seized and later searched. The camera contained photos of the subject with the backpack. A charge for placing bait in the WMA was direct filed and an arrest warrant was obtained for the subject.
- Investigator Pifer was on patrol in the Eglin Wildlife Management Area when he inspected an individual returning to the check station who was participating in a special opportunity hunt. The individual had harvested an antlered deer that did not meet the minimum antler point regulations. The subject was issued a citation for the violation.
 CASES
Flagler County
- Senior Officer Thomas observed a new mobile seafood shop selling saltwater and freshwater products and conducted a retail inspection with Officer Specialist Lawrence. Upon initial inspection, the owner had no invoices for any product on site. The owner asked for an hour to gather all invoices. Upon secondary inspection, the owner still did not have invoices for all products on site. Officer Thomas issued the owner a citation for inadequate retail records and a citation for no freshwater dealers license. He was also issued three warnings for failing to label products, failing to produce records for the acquisition of alligator meat, and for not having his current retail license in his possession.
Marion County
- Officer Roberts received information about two subjects illegally spearfishing on the Rainbow River. After surveilling the river, he located a canoe and subjects matching the description provided by the complainant. Upon contacting the subjects and conducting a resource inspection, Officer Roberts discovered two spear guns on the floor of the canoe in addition to snorkeling gear. Possession of spear guns in or on fresh waters of the state is prohibited. Appropriate citations were issued.
Putnam County
- Officer Specialist L. Dickson and Officer Lambert were on patrol around the Ocklawaha River when they encountered a subject fishing and conducted a resource inspection. During the inspection of the vessel, they discovered an alligator hidden underneath the seat. Taking alligator is currently prohibited due to the season being closed. There were also no CITES tags attached to the alligator. The subject was cited accordingly for the violations.
- Officer Specialists L. Dickson and D. Dickson, along with Officer Lambert observed subjects snatch fishing at Rodman Dam. This method of fishing is prohibited at Rodman Dam. Upon seeing FWC officers approaching, one of the subjects attempted to conceal his fishing rod by dropping it in the water. The subjects initially denied snatch hooking but after further investigation and interviewing the subjects, they admitted to it. During the investigation, one subject was discovered to have an active warrant out for his arrest. Appropriate citations were issued.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Flagler County
- Senior Officer Greenier and Lieutenant Brock attended the Family Farm Festival at the Florida Agricultural Museum. Approximately three hundred people were in attendance and learned about the farm, outdoor lifestyle, conservation and the FWC's mission.
 CASES
Charlotte County
- Officers Brennan, Upton, Salem, Hazelwood, K-9 Garcia, Lieutenants Cloud and Brown and Captain Stasko participated in a youth turkey hunt event where five of the six youths were experiencing hunting for the first time. The officers made a presentation about conservation and did a demonstration with FWC K-9 Jenny. The event was a huge success as each of the hunters harvested a wild turkey and learned about conservation.
Lee County
- Lieutenant Ruggiero was on patrol when he observed several subjects exiting a gate marked as “no trespassing.” Just as the subjects were loading the vehicle to leave, Lieutenant Ruggiero conducted a fisheries inspection and determined the subjects were in possession of an undersized black drum. The subjects were interviewed, and it was determined the subject who caught the fish also did not have a valid fishing license. He was issued a citation for the undersized fish and an infraction for no saltwater nonresident fishing license.
- Officer Hardgrove observed several subjects behind a new construction home and one of them was throwing a cast net. He conducted a fisheries inspection and found several sheepshead and a small tarpon in the subject’s bucket. The subject did not have the proper tag to possess a tarpon and one of the sheepshead was undersized. He was issued citations for taking a tarpon without a tarpon tag, no tarpon tag, taking tarpon by illegal method and possession of undersized sheepshead.
Pasco County
- Officers Kevin Grover, David Moschiano and Tess Williams were on water patrol working commercial shrimping vessels. Two separate vessels were found to be trawling inside the Big Bend Shrimp Closure area. Each captain was cited accordingly.
 CASES
Hendry County
- Officer Watson conducted resource and license inspections on several people fishing a freshwater body of water. During one encounter, he observed a subject throwing a cast net and located multiple freshwater gamefish in the subject’s bucket. It is illegal to harvest freshwater gamefish by method other than hook and line. The appropriate law enforcement action was taken.
- Officer Koger was on patrol when he observed two vehicles parked near the South Florida Water Management District gates at the C-23 Canal. As he pulled up to the vehicles, four individuals approached him. They had no fishing equipment with them but stated there were others still fishing along the canal. Officer Koger walked down the canal and found three additional individuals with a cast net. Two of the individuals were in possession of largemouth bass. The two individuals admitted to using a cast net to catch the bass and were issued citations for taking gamefish by illegal method.
Palm Beach County
- Officer Michael Rea and Officer Patrick Watson were conducting fisheries inspections on Juno Beach and observed a subject fishing. A resource inspection revealed seven bluefish. The subject told them he was commercial fishing; however, he could not produce the required restricted species endorsement needed to harvest commercial quantities of bluefish. The recreational bag limit of bluefish is three. This subject was issued multiple citations in the past for fishing related violations and was cited accordingly for the current violations.
- Officer Michael Rea responded to a concerned angler’s report about two subjects keeping multiple undersized and illegal fish at Phil Foster Park in Riviera Beach. When Officer Rea arrived, the reporting party made him aware the two subjects spotted him and were throwing fish into the water. He also made Officer Rea aware the subjects had multiple fish in a plastic bag under the trash can. Officer Rea observed a subject throwing fish from a bucket and told him to stop, but the subject continued. Inside the bag under the trash can, Officer Rea located four parrotfish. These fish are considered marine life, meaning they must be kept alive using a circulating live well. Phil Foster Park is also a Marine Life Sanctuary zone with specific protections for marine life species. The subjects were cited for the marine life species violations, and the subject who threw the fish was cited for obstruction of an FWC Officer. The reporting party was submitted for a reward through the Wildlife Alert program.
St. Lucie County
- While on routine vessel patrol, Officer Barghouty and Officer Bingham observed a vessel with fishing rods stopped near the Seaway Causeway. The officers asked the individuals on the vessel if they caught any fish and they replied they had caught and kept a 32” snook. A resource inspection was conducted and revealed the snook was oversized. The angler who caught the snook was issued a resource citation.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Martin County
- Local Officers held the 2nd annual youth turkey hunt. Four high school students received training and completed their hunter safety course before the hunts. The weekend consisted of target practice, hunting, and camping. The youth hunters learned about conservation and safe and successful hunting strategies. The youth were able to harvest five wild turkeys over the weekend and enjoyed a barbecue on Sunday with their families.
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CASES
Collier County
- While on patrol Officer Stearns conducted a fishing inspection on two subjects near U.S. 41 and Rattlesnake Hammock. He located a plastic bag with a fish in it and a bait bucket. He asked the subjects if they had caught anything. They said they had not. When asked about the bait bucket and the fish lying next to it, they said they forgot about that fish. Officer Stearns identified the fish as an undersized snook. The subject who caught the undersize snook was issued a notice to appear.
- The FWC’s offshore patrol vessel Trident crew inspected a charter vessel in the Gulf of Mexico, state waters. The charter vessel was found to be in possession of three red grouper during the closed season. The captain of the vessel was issued a notice to appear for the state fisheries violation.
- FWC’s offshore patrol vessel Trident crew inspected a commercial snapper-grouper vessel in the South Atlantic, federal waters. The vessel did not possess the required turtle excluder devices as required by their federal permit. The federal fisheries violation was documented and forwarded to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement.
- Officer Yurewitch observed an individual approach a fillet table with a cooler. The individual pulled an undersized snook from the cooler to pose for a picture. The officer approached the individual to conduct a resource inspection, which confirmed the snook was undersized. The officer also observed an undersized mangrove snapper in the cooler. The officer issued a notice to appear for the snook violation.
SEARCH AND RESCUE
Collier County
- Officers Yurewitch, Reams, Aliff, and Delgado were on water patrol near Marco Island when they responded to a report of a subject who was severely injured in a boating accident. The officers provided first aid to the subject who had a laceration to the head and had aspirated water. The officers transported the victim to a nearby fire station. The incident is under investigation.
- While returning from offshore, Officers Espinoso, Sample, and Williams observed a helicopter flying west in an unusual manner and witnessed the helicopter crash approximately a quarter mile off the beach of Bill Baggs State Park. They approached the downed helicopter and assisted the only occupant onto their vessel within minutes of the incident taking place. Fire rescue arrived and checked out the operator, who suffered no injuries. Miami Dade County Police Department is working in conjunction with the FAA to investigate the incident.
Monroe County
- Officer Venus Garcia was conducting joint water patrol operations with the U.S. Coast Guard in a marked USCG patrol vessel around Marathon. Officer Garcia observed a vessel heading back to shore with several fishing rods and multiple individuals on board. During the boating safety and resource inspection, it was discovered the vessel was a commercial charter with paying customers. There were several safety violations on the vessel that were addressed and cited by USCG. The investigation also revealed 10 undersized yellowtail snappers on the vessel. Officer Garcia issued citations to the charter captain and first mate.
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